Slice stacking mechanism



Dec.-17, 1935. vw. A.-vAN BERKEL 2,024,403

` sLIcE -sTAcKING MEQHANISM Filed Dec. l2, 1951' Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICE STACKING MECHANISM tion of Indiana Application December 12, 1931, Serial No. 580,559 In Great Britain February 12, 1931 15 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines and particularly to slice stacking mechanism for slicing machines.

It is known, in connection with slicing ma- Vchines, to provide slice stacking mechanism of the conveyor type whereby the slices, when cut,

are conveyed one at a time to a position in proximity to a slice discharge ily, the discharge y removing the slices from the conveyor and depositing them in stacked formation on a slice receiver.

Another kind of stacking mechanism now well known has a member which turns as a body about an axis of rotation and includes a .number of prongs adapted to impale the slices as they are being cut. The prongs are usually Xed radially to the axis of rotation but are objectionable due to the fact that the outer prongs diverge from the direction in which the discharge y acts when the discharge fly forces the slices off of the rotary body with the result that the outer prongs tend to retard the removal of the slices. Consequently the slices are not deposited as atly and neatly as desired.

The present invention relates more particularly to the latter type of stacking mechanism, and its primary object is to provide new and improved construction for slice stacking mechanism which mechanism is not subject to the above-mentioned objections and disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slice stacking mechanism which has a body member rotatable about an axis and upon which body member prongs are arranged some of which are movable horizontally when the body reaches a predetermined position.

A further object is to provide slice engaging prongs, some of which are pivotally mounted and associated with means for moving them out of their normal radial relationship into approximate parallelism with the direction of operation of the slice discharging means.

Another object is to provide slice engaging prongs which are capable of adjustment parallel with the movement of the discharged slice.

A still further object is to provide a slice stacking mechanism comprising a stationary cam, and a cam follower which is connected to the outer slice engaging prongs to move the prongs in a predetermined direction and position at certain predetermined sequences.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a se- (Cl. 14S-94) lected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail elevation of a slicing machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan section of the improved stacking mechanism showing the prongs in their normal impaling position.

Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the prongs in the position they assume when the impaled slice is to be discharged from the prongs.

The slicing machine comprises the usual base 5 having a carriage 6 upon which a feed plate 1 is carried for feeding the substance 8 across the path of a rotary circular knife 9.' Clamping means I0 are provided for holding the substance 3 in position relative to the knife. Means (not shown) housed in a casing Il are provided for rotating the knife.

The slicing machine may be operated by hand for moving the substance across the path of the knife, or mechanical or electrically operated mechanism may be provided for performing this function.

A slice receiver plate l2 is xed to the machine and is arranged in close proximity to the slice conveyor I3 of the stacking mechanism. The slice conveyor I3 is provided with a plurality of prongs or fingers I4 which pass through spaced openings I5 in the discharge ily I6.

The slice' conveyor I3 is provided withthree groups of prongs I4 which cooperate with the usualhorizontally grooved guide plate I1 which is associated with the knife 9 and secured to the usual knife bracket I8.

The conveyor I3 has an operative connection with a vertical shaft 20 which is continuously rotated by a counter-shaft 2|, Fig. 2, through bevelfgearing (not shown), the shaft 20 receiving itsrotation from a working part of the slicing machine. The discharge fly I6 includes an arm 22 to which the spaced fingers 23 are secured, the arm 22 being secured to an angularly turnable shaft 24 which is journaled in a stationarybracket at one side of the slice receiving plate I2;

A cam 25 is fixed to the shaft 20 and rotates therewith causing operation of the discharge fly I6 in a manner well known in the art. -The particular construction of the discharge fly is not part of the present invention and may be any suitable construction desired just so that it will cooperate with the prongs Hl to remove the slices therefrom. One form of discharge fly of the type herein shown for illustrative purposes is shown and described in my Patent No. 1,976,862 granted October 16, 1934, and assigned to the present assignee. A form of discharge fly which operates to particular advantage in connection with the present invention is that 'shown and disclosed in another Patent No. 1,976,866, granted October 16, 1934. In this latter application the curved fly is tapered to a smaller width at one end. The prongs project through the fly a greater amount at the thin end of the ily than at its thicker end. Thus, when the slice is discharged from the prongs, it frees itself a little bit quicker from the prongs on one end than at the other. This causes a peeling effect and prevents tearing of the slice by the prongs.

In the operation of the slicing machine and stacking mechanism, as each slice 26 is being cut by the knife 9, the prongs I4 move in turn into engagement with the slice and carry it across the surface of the guide plate I1. The sharp points of the prongs I4 enter the grooves in the guide plate with the result that the slices are rmly impaled on the prongs. In the continued rotation of the conveyor I3, the slice discharging position is reached, the slice discharging position being the position shown in Fig. 2. It is in this latter position that the discharge fly is operated by the cam 25. When the discharge fly operates it pivots downwardly and outwardly about the axis of the shaft 24 and removes the slice from the prongs I4 depositing the slice on the plate i2. The slice conveyor I3 continues its rotary movement and removes the slices 25 one at a time as they are sliced from the substance 8 and deposits them in stacked formation on the plate I2.

In the present embodiment shown, the prongs i4 are arranged in three groups, the central group being secured radially and rigidly to the arcuate conveyor plate I3. The outer or end groups each comprise vertical rows of prongs I4 which are secured to vertical rods 2'1 which are rotatably mounted in lugs on the back of the conveyor plate I3. Each rod has secured thereto an arm 28 which is pin-jointed to one of two links 29. The middle of each of these links is pin-jointed to one or a pair of toggle levers 30 which are interconnected at their other ends and which are continuously pulled together by a tension spring 3l. 'Ihe levers 3i! carry a roller 32 riding on the periphery of a cam 33. The cam 33 is mounted on the shaft 20 but is xed against rotation by a bracket 34 extending from the guide plate I1. The entire arrangement is such that, as the conveyor is in the act of taking a slice being cut, the prongs are all arranged substantially radially to the axis of the shaft 20, as shown in Fig. 3. After the prongs have been moved beyond the guide plate I'I by the rotation of the conveyor, the roller 32 gradually rides up the hump of the cam 33, with the result that the levers 30 are forced to moveapart against the action of the spring 3|. This movement results in the prongs of the outer groups pivoting into such a position in which they are approximately parallel to the central rigid prongs, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus, when the conveyor reaches the slice discharging position, all the prongs lie approximately in the direction in which the slice discharge fly acts, Fig. 4. In consequence, the slices will be removed evenly. The slices are moved from the prongs by the operation of the discharge fly I6 which is controlled in substantial parallelism. The device is simple by the cam 25 and operates periodically in proper timed relationship with the conveyor I3. After the slice discharging operation, the roller 32 rides down the other side of the hump of the cam and permits the levers 30 to be 5 pulled more closely together again by the spring 3|, with the result that the outer prongs return to their normal radial position, Fig. 3, to receive the next slice.

The invention provides improved slice stacking mechanism whereby the slice being cut will be discharged or removed from the slice conveyor without the slice becoming torn or otherwise mutilated. Also the slices will be stacked or piled evenly on the slice receiving platform or table. By making the prongs in the outer groups movable at predetermined intervals, the slices are impaled by the prongs when the prongs lie in a substantially radial position and are removed by the discharge iiy when the prongs lie in construction, positive in operation, can be readily and economically manufactured, and can be installed in present existing devices employing the rotary type of slice conveyor.

Changes may be made in the form, construe tion, and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right isI hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. Slice stacking mechanism of the type speci- -fied comprising a slice conveyor rotatably 35 mounted about a central pivot, a pivoted prong'f carried by said conveyor, means for moving said prong on its pivot at an angle relative to an outer surface of the conveyor during rotation of the conveyor, and means for intermittently y4:() varying the angle of said prong in respect to the central pivot during rotation of the conveyor.

2. Slice stacking mechanism of the type specified comprising a rotatably mounted slice conveyor, a prong carried by said conveyor, and means for moving the prong horizontally to various angular positions relative to the conveyor during rotative movement of the conveyor.

3. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a rotatably mounted conveyor, said conveyor having an arcuate surface, a plurality of horizontally spaced prongs mounted on said arcuate surface and arranged in series, means for moving all, of said prongs of the series simultaneously to" a position radially of said surface and for moving said prongs of the series simultaneously to a position Where they lie substantially parallel to each other.

4. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a rotary conveyor having a plurality of slice engaging prongs arranged thereon in groups, and means controlled by said mechanism for moving each of the prongs of two of said groups simultaneously into and out of radial position relative to the conveyor.

5. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a plurality of slice engaging prongs arranged in groups, the prongs of one of said groups being radially mounted relative to the conveyor, and means for moving the prongs of another of said groups to a position into approximate parallelism with the radially mounted group.

6. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a plurality of slice engaging prongs arranged in' 75 groups, the prongs of one of said groups being mounted radially relative to the conveyor, and means for swinging each of the prongsof the other of said groups into various angular positions relative to the prongs of the rst named group.

'7. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a rotary mounted conveyor, said conveyor having an arcuate surface, a prong carried by said conveyor and extending radially therefrom, another prong pivotally mounted to said conveyor, means for moving the last named prong to a radial position relative to the conveyor when the conveyor is moved to a predetermined position to cause both prongs to impale a slice, and means for moving said last named prong in a position substantially parallel to the first named prong when the conveyor attains another position to permit an impaled slice to be removed from said prongs.

8. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a rotary mounted conveyor, said conveyor having `an arcuate surface, a prong carried by said conveyor and extending radially therefrom, another prong pivotally mounted to said conveyor, means for moving the last named prong to a radial position relative to the conveyor when the conveyor is moved to a predetermined position, to cause both of said prongs to impale a slice, means for moving said last named prong in a position substantially parallel to the rst named prong when the conveyor attains another position to permit easy removal of an impaled slice from the prongs, both of said means including a stationary cam, and a cam follower which is operatively connected to said pivotally mounted prong.

9. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a conveyor, a rotatably mounted shaft for rotating said conveyor, a plurality of pivotally mounted prongs connected to said conveyor, toggle mechanism connecting said prongs, and a cam for moving said toggle mechanism at predetermined intervals whereby the prongs will be swung on their pivots to impaling position and later to slice releasing position.

10. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a conveyor, a plurality of slice engaging prongs arranged in groups, saidprongs being pivotally mounted to said conveyor, a link operatively connecting the prongs of each group, toggles connecting said links, a spring member connected to said toggles for urging the toggles` in a predetermined position, a roller, said toggles being connected to said roller, and a cam mem- 5 ber engageable with said roller for moving the toggles against the action of the spring to move the slice engaging prongs of each group into various angular positions, whereby the prongs will be set to impale a slice at a predetermined time and later moved to position to release the impaled slice.

11. Slice stacking mechanism comprising a plurality of prongs horizontally spaced in a predetermined position to impale a slice, and means for moving the ends of some of said prongs toward each other after the slice is impaled, and means for removing a slice from said prongs when the prongs are in said latter position.

12. In a slicing machine having a rotary drum, a plurality of prongs carried by said drum, some of said prongs being rigidly fastened to said drum and other of said prongs being pivotally fastened to the drum.

13. In a slicing machine having a rotary drum, a plurality of prongs carried by said drum, some of said prongs being rigidly fastened to said drum and other of said prongs being pivotally fastened to the drum, and means for shifting the pivotally mounted prongs on their pivots.

14. A slicing machine comprising a conveyor having a substantially radially arranged stationary prong, a movable prong pivoted to the conveyor, means for swinging the movable prong on its pivot to assume a radial position to impale a slice, and means for swinging the movable prong on its pivot to non-radial position and in substantially parallelism to the xed prong to permit a slice to be easily removed.

15. A slicing machine comprising a conveyor, a plurality of prongs pivoted to the conveyor, means for swinging said prongs on their pivots whereby the prongs assume a radial position for impaling a slice, and means for swinging the prongs on their pivots to a non- 5 radial position whereby the prongs will be arranged in substantial parallelism to permit an impaled slice to be easily removed from the prongs.

WILHELMUS ADRIANUS VAN BERKEL. 

